First-Year Seminars bring Mary Matalin to Loyola's campus

Loyola University New Orleans President Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J., Ph.D., brings political consultant Mary Matalin to his class, American Health Care: Justice for All?, as part of the First-Year Seminar Program at Loyola University New Orleans.

Matalin will visit Loyola on Monday, Sept. 21, at 3:30 p.m. in Marquette 401. Matalin will discuss government policy as a key to moving from law to daily reality. This class will examine the important role of “policy” in American life.

Matalin has served Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush as an adviser. Most recently, she joined the Bush/Cheney administration in the first term as assistant to the president and counselor to the vice president. In that capacity, she worked as senior adviser on major initiatives, including homeland security, energy, economic growth and corporate governance policies. She oversaw the vice president’s political and communications departments, advancing administration policies from the Middle East, Europe and across America to Capitol Hill.

As part of its mission to educate the whole person, Loyola University New Orleans has implemented a program of First-Year Seminars for all first-year students.

“A liberal arts education teaches students to synthesize knowledge from different subject areas and to reflect critically on facts and ideas. These seminars, anchored in our university-wide theme of ‘thinking critically, acting justly’ help our first-year students begin that process,” said Dr. Melanie McKay, vice provost for faculty affairs. “In addition, they introduce students to our Jesuit values, as they challenge students to grapple with issues of morality and justice and encourage them to carry those reflections into their daily lives.”

The seminars are special-topics courses conducted by leading Loyola faculty. All are small classes grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge and an exploration of values. They provide unique classroom experiences, as well as co-curricular events, field trips, dinners, films and other social gatherings.